Funeral Services will be conducted Sunday afternoon, May 6, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the Taylor Funeral Home. Place of rest will be in the Rock Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 5, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Taylor Funeral Home
Thomas Richard “Tom” Hickerson, of The Villages, Florida, passed away on April 29, 2018.
Tom was born June 1, 1941 in White Bluff, TN, a son of the late John Melvin Hickerson and Winifred Aline Petty Hickerson. He was a Veteran of the United States Navy having served his Country from 1959 until 1967. He retired from the FAA as an Air Traffic Controller. He was generous with his time, giving years of volunteer service to the Island Fire Department in Savannah, Georgia. Later he served as Director of Rancho Santa Fe Fire Department in San Diego, California. Tom served as President of the Master Board Association from 2001-2014 with 4S Ranch Association Inc. June 1 st was declared Tom Hickerson Day in honor of his service.
Tom loved his work within the aviation industry. In addition to being an Air Traffic Controller for the FAA, he held his private pilots license and was instrument rated. While in Oklahoma City, he served as FAA Academy Instructor for 4 years. Tom found great joy in being a licensed boat captain during the years he lived in Seattle, Washington.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Blanks.
Tom is survived by his wife, Jan Hickerson whom he married in 1977; his son, Richard Keith Hickerson (Heather); his 2 daughters, Lori Sullivan (Aaron), and Angie Taylor (Kirk Malone); three grandchildren, Nick Sullivan, Shelby Hickerson and Sloan Hickerson.
He was an avid animal lover who recued 30+ Pugs. In lieu of flowers, Tom would be honored to have you donate to Central Florida Pug Rescue Inc., PO Box 953744 Lake Mary, FL 32795, CFPPUGS@yahoo.com or 407-756-4998.